#in case you aren't as nerdy as i am with historical slang lol

[honorhearted]

emcads​:

SHE FOUND HERSELF LAUGHING WITH HIM, a warm smile writ permanently onto her lips.  such a rare pleasure for one so long at sea ––  another’s hands at her cheeks,  their laughter in her mouth,  their promises in her ear.  could she help it if she was inclined to indulge herself with a bit of harmless PLAY ?  ( well, mostly harmless,  supposing this once-soldier knew more of the battlefield than the bedroll )  Esmeralda stepped back just slightly to survey him,  a hand lingering there at his chest and idly tracing its way down the swells and valleys of musculature,  the weave of fabric concealing just enough to strike her curiosity.  God,  forgive me.

 ❛❛   I suppose it does.   ❜❜  

her own smile turned wry and teasing, then,  with a glance to his foil that lay even now in the bush.  no doubt he had meant only innocence with his mock-vow   –– although what innocence to be had in a promise of dutiful penetration was suspect at best –– but Esmeralda could not let him off for such a line so easily.  not when he had kissed her like that,  as though he were VERY MUCH IMAGINING hands and bodies elsewhere. such manners were unthinkable even amongst pirates.

 ❛❛     am I to take that to mean you prefer when women give you the command to spear them ?   ❜❜

Her touch was...distracting, to say the least. Ben swallowed, his throat visibly bobbing due to foregoing neckwear that afternoon. Despite it being improper -- he could practically feel his dearly departed mother reeling from him being both bare and indecent around the fairer sex -- he'd found it far more preferable for their recreational play. But God, perhaps that had been a mistake...

Tremblingly, Ben caught her wandering hand and squeezed it between his fingers, resisting the urge to press a kiss to her knuckles, her palm, her wrist -- whatever sacred inch she would allow. But would she even allow it?

All at once, his eyes snapped up towards Esmeralda's face at such a declaration -- spear them? -- and unbidden, the heat in his cheeks burned impossibly hotter.

"I...uh..." Lips opening and closing, Ben's tongue acted before his brain and he boldly quipped, "I prefer to harpoon them, actually. It's far more in step with my seaside upbringing."

Stop. For the love of God, stop talking.

With a wince, he quickly amended, "Forgive me, that was incredibly uncouth. I would never..." He waved a hand. "W-well, I'm not saying I would never do that...uh..." Damnation. "I-I mean! I am amenable to requests, because I prefer to know that what I am offering is wanted. There's far too much taking in this world, wouldn't you agree?"

Unable to meet with her gaze, he softly added, "I like you. A lot. And although I could make some crass joke about partaking in the green gown, instead, I am wholly content to receive whatever attentions you spare...even if that attention is at the very end of a blade." He motioned toward their weapons with a shy smile. "And after this pitiful display, I would thoroughly accept being run through. In fact, I'm almost begging you. I've made a total arse of myself."